March is Water and Sanitation month, and the irony is not lost as we consider all of those right now severely impacted by significant flooding.
The Rotary Foundation does make available a Disaster Response Grant of US$25,000 to districts that have had a major disaster in their area. It’s a quick approval, available to the District Governor but limited by the funds donated to this specific TRF fund. Other disaster support is facilitated by ShelterBox and RAWCS who have just opened a National Flood Appeal to support those impacted not only in Queensland and northern NSW but across the country.
Breaking News...
1.Please click HERE to view the media release which has just arrived so can you use that link as well as my reference to the National Flood appeal.
2. Please click HERE to view the the Rotary International statement on the Ukraine conflict.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Ukraine in this darkest of times, especially our fellow Rotarians including RI General Secretary John Hewko and his extended family.
He is a charter member of the Rotary Club of Kyiv, Ukraine. Rotarians are readying themselves to support the long term needs for aid as refugees are resettled. To support the RAWCS fund raising appeal, please click HERE.
Tonga Tsunami Appeal: D9685 has made a direct contribution of AUD $10,000 to purchase 5 SkyHydrant water filters being shipped free of charge. Each unit can produce 500 litres per hour, are gravity fed and require no chemicals. Requested by Her Majesty the Queen of Tonga via the Hon Consul in NSW they will be delivered to Rotary District 9920 that includes Tonga. District 9685 urgently needs an additional $4,500 to cover the full purchase cost. If your club held a Tonga Tsunami Appeal, please consider contributing to this project by contacting DG Lindsay.
RAWCS has a Tonga Appeal currently at $140,000 of a $1 million target. Significant aid to Tonga has been generously supplied by the NZ and Australian governments via their military and Rotarians in Tonga are most grateful.
ShelterBox was not required to supply boxes to Tonga because RNZWCS already had 540 of their Emergency Response Kits (ERKs) in country and these were delivered to outlying islands in days.
Clean Up Australia, Sunday March 6, you can help by joining one of the many Rotary club teams and spend a few hours tidying your local area.
Exciting news! Clubs are thawing out of COVID isolation with in-person and Zoom hybrid meetings. Well done all those clubs that have continued to run projects in their communities that will fill the next few months with feverish activity.
Finally, District Conference March 18 and 19 is under full sail, bookings close Thursday March 10. The program is action packed, fast paced with over 30 short presentations as we pack three days into one. Check out the speakers and register now to ensure your seats to Navigating Change. Tania and I look forward to seeing many Rotarians come together for the first time in 3 years.
Stay safe, stay calm.
Be a friend, support each other.
As you serve together to deliver your projects and change lives.
Congratulations to all the clubs in our District that are carrying out Rotary Foundation District Grants and Global Grants this year! You are making a real impact here in Australia and in many countries around the world by using the Rotary Foundation’s Annual Fund.
Donations you make as a Centurion or Paul Harris Society member to the Annual Fund are held for three years, then returned to our District for use in Grants. Your generous support in 2018/19 became available to us in this 2021/22 Rotary year, amounting to $A350,000.
You have used these funds as a “Seed Bank” to grow projects worth $A1,750,000 --five times bigger than these funds alone could provide! You have done this by contributing additional funds individually or through your clubs, by encouraging donations from the wider community, and by networking with Rotarians and Rotary Clubs in other countries to add their contributions.
Special congratulations to Chatswood/Roseville, Lane Cove, Beecroft, Northlakes Toukley, Carlingford, Beecroft, Greater Hills, Upper Northern Beaches, The Hills Kellyville, and the E-Club of Greater Sydney for your hard work in getting 15 Global Grants approved already this year. This is by far the largest number of global grants in any District across Australia and New Zealand. Your projects are meeting critical needs across India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, The Philippines, and Cambodia.
Looking forward to the coming Rotary year, clubs will have access to grants of up to $A5000 for district grant projects, and district contributions of up to $US 10,000 for global grant projects. The overall amount of funds available next year will be about $A275,000. You can work with the community and other clubs around the world to multiply this seed capital to carry out significant projects that make a real impact on communities here in Australia and overseas.
For the 14th consecutive year, The Rotary Foundation has received the highest rating — four stars — from Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of charities in the U.S.
Your personal contribution this year as a Centurion or Paul Harris Society Member, and your club’s contribution to the Annual Fund, are crucial to keep the “Seed Bank” operating. Donations this year will return to District 9685 in 2024/25.
Please click here to make your personal tax-deductible donation to the Annual Fund.
Please visit us at The Rotary Foundation table at the District Conference to learn more.
We have overcome so many challenges these past two years and changed numerous lives. It brings me great joy that we have worked so hard this year to grow Rotary through the Each One, Bring One initiative. The result has been excellent growth in membership. Let us keep up the momentum. I am happy that you have put a spotlight on all we do by organizing projects around the world in our Rotary Days of Service. The future looks brighter than ever for Rotary and our 1.4 million members.
On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization declared that COVID-19 constituted a pandemic, and two years later it is important that we continue to draw on our expertise in our disease prevention and treatment area of focus to help people worldwide cope with the continuing challenges. The pandemic continues to defy all expectations, but we cannot be frozen in fear. Our work is too important. It is also important that we make time for each other, and I urge you to register for the upcoming 2022 Rotary International Convention in Houston. It is a great way for all of us to safely celebrate Rotary service.
1. COUNT DOWN TO DISTRICT CONFERENCE at West HQ, Rooty Hill 18-19 March 2022.
Already we have over 300 registered Rotarians and guests!For more information, Read More.
BOOK HERE by using the QR code to the left, or simply by clicking HERE.
Friday night dinner plus Saturday conference and stay overnight at the Novotel, on-site
West HQ is an amazing venue, well worth a visit.
$97 for new members. The venue will follow strict health protocols and all attendees must show proof of double vax. Prof Dwyer urges all to get their booster shots.
Dynamic Speakers
Remember to register for Conference and encourage your members and partners to join you.
2. President Elect Learning and Development Day (PELD) Saturday, 12th March 2022 at St Joseph's Conference Centre, Baulkham Hills.
District Assembly for all incoming Club Boards on Sunday, 1st May 2022
3. District 9685 DG Nominations – OPEN NOW!
It is time to think about the future leadership of our great District!
Nominations opened on Feb 6 for Past Club Presidents interested in taking on the role of leading our District in 2024-25. Please click here to see the Information Packfor further details.
Applications close Mar 30.
Interviews will be conducted on Sunday April 10.
If you qualify and would like further details, or if you know the ideal candidate, contact PDG Kalma 0417 696 156 kalmamclellan@optusnet.com.au
PDG Kalma McLellan
DG Nominating Committee Chair 2021-2022
4. The Virtual Great Train Ride to End Polio went from no to go in two weeks.
Thanks to Mark and Dave Anderson of Beecroft club for their quick and enthusiastic organisation. Dave is a staff member of the Sydney Rail network timetable team so the transition from on the train to in the Parramatta Centenary Park, was a change of pace.
It was a great launch for the Raise for Rotary platform and around 20% of the revenue ($5,700) came via this method. This online fundraising portal is a major benefit to Clubs and their fundraising for Rotary Foundation projects.
D9685 clubs contributed $12,300 and members donated $3,000
You can still donate to the Great Train Ride using Raise for Rotary
While the train ride contributions were well down on past years, given the COVID lockdown and not being on the train, this was a good result.
Picture: Dave and Mark Anderson at Parramatta recording donations on the Sydney Rail network map.
5. TRAGEDY IN AFGHISTAN PROVIDES INSPIRATION TO END POLIO NOW!
The tragic events in Afghanistan last week must serve as motivation to Rotarians around the world to dedicate ourselves to completing our Polio eradication campaign. Action by terrorists in murdering eight polio workers is totally unacceptable.
This needless loss of life – and the fate of previous polio workers and volunteers in several different situations in recent years – will be all for nothing if we do not END POLIO NOW. Senior leaders across all partner organisations in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative all believe we are on the brink of final victory!
The wild polio virus figures speak for themselves –
2019 – 176 (147 in Pakistan; 29 in Afghanistan)
2020 – 140 (84 in Pakistan: 56 in Afghanistan)
2021 – 6 (1 in Pakistan, 1 in Malawi, 4 in Afghanistan)
2022 – 1 (1 in Afghanistan at February 23)
For those people who believe Rotary and its partners have spent enough time and resources on the campaign and that it’s time to move one, take a message from the recent ‘imported’ case in Malawi.
The World Health Organisation has confirmed that it was imported from the same area in Pakistan where several cases have recently been discovered. Surveillance continues and intensive vaccination campaigns have been conducted throughout that, and other, areas and the situation now appears to be under control.
It is vital that we all stay in the fight.
Promote, create awareness, raise money. We must provide resources to conclude the campaign and we must ensure the world knows how easy cases can be transported to other areas in these modern times.
NO ONE IS SAFE UNTIL THE JOB IS DONE!
For the statement from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Ministry of Health Read More
6. Police Officer of the Year 2021
7. The 2022 Rotary International Convention
We want you to be confident that we’ll be following U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requirements on COVID-19, including the use of masks and other safety measures for in-person gatherings. Visit convention.rotary.org to learn more about the safety protocols that will be in place at the convention.
After two years of virtual-only gatherings, Houston presents an in-person opportunity to build and strengthen relationships, share experiences and expertise, learn from the best and brightest, and so much more. We hope you’ll come explore all the possibilities in a city known for space exploration, theater, museums, and cuisine from around the world.
"The Club Buzz" is where you will find some exciting and relevant programs or events happening in our Clubs and in District 9685.
Just Look HEREfor the latest activities and news. In almost every case, the headings or whole item are linked to either a larger copy of the document, or more information. So just click on the headings or item in the Club Buzz pages. To view the Club Buzz Design Guidelines for Clubs to provide information for Club Buzz, click HERE.
In this edition of Club Buzz, you will find news about:
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The Rotary Club of Ryde - Bennelong Gardens Update
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The Rotary Club of Kurrajong North Richmond - Virtual Train Ride to End Polio - How They Celebrated the Day
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The Rotary Club of Epping - 60th Anniversary
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The Rotary Club of Ku-ring-gai, St Ives, Turramurra and Wahroonga - The Bobbo
Radio is a powerful way to spread your Club stories. If your Club has a project, local or overseas, which would interest the wider general public, discuss it with Rotary Matters presenter Ian Stuart who will be glad to help spread the word. Ian.stuart@optusnet.com.au 0416 138 860
to let us know of any bereavements you would like published.
You may also inform your Assistant Governor, the District Secretary, or the Governor. Remember to also update your club's member database on the District website.
THE ROTARY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE COURSE 68
13th to 15th MAY, 2022
Face to Face
The next opportunity is RLI 68 which will be held face ti face at the RDU Property at Norwest.
You are receiving this email as a member or friend of one of the Rotary Clubs within Rotary International District 9685. If, for any reason, you do not want to receive communications of this nature, please unsubscribe by un-checking the box in the 'Privacy' tab of your member profile on the District website, or by selecting the 'unsubscribe' link at the foot of this newsletter.
District eNews is reviewed weekly for publication on Thursday at least every two weeks. Content provided and all rights reserved by Rotary International District 9685 Inc
Tonga Tsunami Appeal: D9685 has made a direct contribution of AUD $10,000 to purchase 5 SkyHydrant water filters being shipped free of charge. Each unit can produce 500 litres per hour, are gravity fed and require no chemicals. Requested by Her Majesty the Queen of Tonga via the Hon Consul in NSW they will be delivered to Rotary District 9920 that includes Tonga. District 9685 urgently needs an additional $4,500 to cover the full purchase cost. If your club held a Tonga Tsunami Appeal, please consider contributing to this project by contacting DG Lindsay.
"The Club Buzz" is where you will find some exciting 
